Design of an efficient DC-DC converter for solar energy conversion

• Main Author: Mohamed Ali Ibrahim.
• Other Authors: Ali Iftekhar Maswood
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Power electronics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45841
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project describes the design and validation of a maximum power point tracking of an efficient DC-DC converter for solar energy conversion. A piecewise linear model is used to model the I-V characteristic of a photovoltaic array (PV). It describes how to substantially increase the efficiency of solar power conversion by allowing solar cells to operate at their ideal operating point. While a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is proposed utilizing a booster converter topology. Solar panel voltage and current are continuously monitored by a closed-loop discrete based control system, and the duty cycle of the booster converter continuously adjusted to extract maximum power. The goal of this project is to perform a systematic analysis, modeling and evaluation of the key subsystems or components of a solar array system and to develop an optimal tracking and control strategy.